Introduction

A musical instrument is used to created musical sounds. basically, any object that makes
sound is said to be a musical instrument. Someone who plays a musical instrument is as
an instrumentalist. Early musical instruments may have been used for rituals, such as
a horn to signal victory in a hunt, or a drum in ceremonies. The exact date and specific
origin of the first musical instrument is unknown. The oldest found musical instrument, is a
simple flute dating back to 50,000–60,000 years. Musical instruments are constructed in a
broad array of styles and shapes, using many different materials. Early musical instruments
were made from "found objects" such as shells and plant parts. Instruments are classified
into four different types based on the way sound is produced:

 Idiophones produce sound through vibration of the instrument itself. Examples are
bells, cymbals etc
 Mebraphones create sound by hitting the stretched membrane of the instrument.
Examples are drums and damru’s
 Aerophones create sound by air. Examples are flutes trumpets and saxophones
 Chordophones create sound by vibration of strings. Examples are sitar violin and
guitar

Wind instrument – Shehnai

The shehnai is a musical instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent.
The shehnai is made of wood, except for a metal bell attached to the bottom of the
instrument, and measures about 12–20 inches in length, with six to eight keyless finger
holes along its body. The shehnai is a difficult instrument to play, as the musician must
master a wide range of fingering techniques. Notable Indian shehnai players are:

 Bismillah Khan
 S. Ballesh
Its sound is thought to create a sense of spirutuality and as a result, is of nine instruments
found in the royal court. The shehnai is similar to South India's nadaswaram.
String instrument – Sitar
The sitar is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used
in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in medieval India, flourished in
the 18th century, and arrived at its present form in 19th-century India. Typically
measuring about 1.2 metres (4 feet) in length, the sitar has a deep pear-shaped gourd body;
a long, wide, hollow wooden neck; both front and side tuning pegs; and 20 arched movable
frets.Famous sitar players are:

 Ravi Shankar
 Anoushka Shankar
 Annapurna Devi
Skin intruments – Damaru
A damaru is a small two-headed drum, used in Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. In
Hinduism, the damaru is known as the instrument of the deity Shiva, !n Tibetan Buddhism,
the damaru is used as an instrument in meditation practices.[4]The drum is usually made of
wood, metal with leather drum heads at both ends. The height of the damaru is 6 inches
and weight varies from 250 to 330 gm. It is played single-handedly. The strikers are tied
to the ends of leather cords around the middle of the damaru.

Conclusion

The world of musical instruments enriches our cultural heritage and serves as a tribute to
human creativity. From the rhythmic beats of drums to the melodic strains of
violins, instruments have played an important role in connecting us across
time and space. As we continue to embrace and celebrate music, we need to
remember that, in the hands of musicians, instruments become ways of
expression of feelings and emotions. So, the next time you hear the
melodious notes of a piano or the sound of a saxophone, take a moment to
appreciate the impact that these instruments have on our lives and the world.